Support NeoGAF

[The Take Out Bandit]

Unless you're some sort of miracle child, chances are you've made some stupid mistakes in your life. So, what are they?

Mine would have to be not going to the Art Institute of Pittsburgh after high school.

I have the great school system and fawful parenting to thank for that. For years I was told that what I was doing was not profitable, nor was it "art"; and like a stupid kid - I fell for it.

 

[Chipopo]

Cutting an incredible amount of classes freshman year. Ended up failing three. While most people cut classes and get wasted/stoned, I was most typically found HERE ON GA, TRYING TO CULMINATE A POPULAR OT PERSONA. My college options have been pretty severely hindered because of this.


One of those unalterable things that you just learn to accept.

 

[NetMapel]

Getting too worked up about breaking up a relationship at the beginning of second year university. It really screwed me up academically, and hindered my chance of getting into the prestigeous business school here...

 

[Pochacco]

Sega Dreamcast. Fucking waste of money. PSO was pretty cool though..

 

[Boogie]

Regrets? Oh, enough to fill a lifetime. So much has been lost, so much forgotten. So much pain, so much blood. And for what, I wonder. The past tempts us, the present confuses us, and the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast terrible inbetween. But there is still time to seize that one last fragile moment. To choose something better, to make a difference, as you say. And I intend to do just that.

 

[Tarazet]

Regrets? Oh, enough to fill a lifetime. So much has been lost, so much forgotten. So much pain, so much blood. And for what, I wonder. The past tempts us, the present confuses us, and the future frightens us. And our lives slip away, moment by moment, lost in that vast terrible inbetween. But there is still time to seize that one last fragile moment. To choose something better, to make a difference, as you say. And I intend to do just that.

*wipes a tear from his eye*

Inspiring.

 

[DarienA]

What Boogie said... kinda... except that I've been blessed enough to have been given other doors(when previous one's closed or were closed by me), and I now lead a few happy, and content life. if anything my biggest regret is losing touch with some people I grew up with.... some folks I went to college with, a few people who were very close to me in my younger years.....


Let me tell you a story real quick that I often think about as just imaging how differently life's path can take two people.


When I was young I use to participate in summer bible school, and one particular summer we went to another town for a convention like thing... some work, but mostly like a giant fair where you went around to different buildings and they had different events.... I found a building that had it's own old style bowling alley... nothing automatic you had to set it up youself. There was a girl there her name was Catalina, she was... beautiful, and we spent the rest of the day together... at the final group session we sat together and held hands... it was truly beautiful... folks made fun of me for quite awhile after that but it was one of the happiest moments in my young life. We exchange #'s and tried to keep in touch... she never called me, but I called her often... mostly from payphones as I got in trouble from calling from our home phone and running up the phone bill(She lived in NY state same as me but she lived pretty far south). She always sounded happy to hear from me.... as I grew older for some reason that I can't remember I contacted her less and less, and eventually forgot about her. One holiday years later I rediscovered her # and called her family's house... just cause... it was a nice reunion, we briefly spoke and it was really nice...

Occasionally as I went through college and went through my early 20's I often wondered what had become of her.... Years ago I signed up at classmates.com because it seemed like a really cool way to get back in touch with folks. As well there were 3 people I hoped would eventually sign up... two friends from college and Catalina.

Well those two friends have never signed up, but last year Catalina signed up. From the way she signed up I could see that she was married but I still though it would be cool to get back in touch just cause... so I emailed her. Now the classmates.com email system is set up so you can see when a person reads your email... so I could see she read mine... I recapped who I was just in case she had forgotten... it was easily what... 20+ years.... and to my surprise, and disappointment... she never responded... I was crushed... I had held this torch for this little girl for years... and she couldn't even find the time to respond to my email....

Life is funny like that.

 

[Fresh Prince]

Fucking SE\CS Degree I would actually studied harder and tried to become a lawyer,

 

[MC Safety]

Next Generation. I turned down a chance to work for Next Generation. Twice.

Alas.

 

[impirius]

Trying to convince myself that I wanted to finish a Computer Science degree despite falling grades and zero interest. That cost me two years of my life and over 13 grand so far, and now my fiancee is starting her doctorate up in North Carolina while I'm staying with my folks in order to finish up an Interdisciplinary Studies degree.


(Disco Stu: YOU COULD'VE SAVED IT MANG)

 

[LakeEarth]

Not getting the girl I had a crush on for all my years in highschool. Fell for her on the first day, and was always too nervous around her to make a good impression.

 

[Lambtron]

Nor ordering the Ween Live in Toronto disc fast enough. I'm going to end up paying some christing huge sum and it'll piss me off. But it's Ween.

School has been one big regret, but enough about that.

 

[ChumsGum]

Fack regrets! Live, learn, and move onto tomorrow.

 

[fennec fox]

Fack regrets! Live, learn, and move onto tomorrow.

I had some regrets, but I'm so old I forgot them all. Same thing.

 

[speedpop]

Even though I am completely happy and satisfied with my current girlfriend, there was always that niggling part of me that said "you stupid brainless moron" to that girl I had a crush on during the latter years of school. Turns out after school is over, that she felt the same way during the same period of time, just she never thought I felt the same hence nothing comes to fruition.

I had a dream about her the other day and I have tried but failed to contact her because we were friends before but during the whole "holy shit I have this massive crush on her" we kinda seperated apart. But fuck she was beautiful both inside and out.. Natalie Portman look-a-like with a curvier and bustier body and I wish I had a pic just so I could prove it.

Also wish I had taken that offer of my friend to join his band which is now doing great locally. But I figured well as much as I love music and want to create music which I semi-do, the lifestyle just doesn't suit me. Hopefully the decision I made (heading straight into psychological science and gain Ph.D) is the right one for me later on in life.

I also wish I had broken up with my first love a lot earlier than we did. Three years is a bitch when the relationship turns sour for a few months then ends in heartbreak. Funnily enough I was going to end it after a year or so into the relationship but her crying and sobbing made me stop. The last year of it was a pain in the arse that I hope I never go through.. but eh.. it cured me of depression.

 

[aoi tsuki]

The first regrets that come to mind are with women. Most of which were during the time i was working, going to school, and helping my mom take care of my dad before he died. i had so many things going on at the time i couldn't see the numerous women who were obviously interested in me. i also have a major regret that our family never took pictures. In my dad's last few months, he was had lost a lot of weight, and looked nothing like the invincible superman i envisioned him to be, even into my adulthood. One of the first things i did after he died was to get a digital camera.

 

[drohne]

a couple weekends ago a girl invited me up to "see her room," which she'd just redecorated. i didn't care a lick about her stupid room, so i told her i didn't want to wake up her housemates, and took my leave. didn't realize i'd turned down sex until the next day. i was stoned out of my mind, but that's no excuse. that's hardly the biggest mistake i've made -- i've egregiously wasted my life -- but it's the one that stings right now. i think i'll see her tomorrow, but really i was uncharacteristically dapper and quick that evening, and i don't like my immediate chances. i really need a win too.

 

[demon]

http://forums.gaming-age.com/showpost.php?p=952689&postcount=52

And considering where my life is now, I consider the past several years one big regret. I mean, I'm 23, went through five years of college and aside from a piece of paper saying I graduated, I came out with nothing to show for it. I don't feel as though I learned anything; I don't feel any more prepared for the "real world" or qualifed for a job than I did going into college; aside for one sketchy friendship I know no one and have no "college buddies"; and I have no experience with girls, and yes I mean in that way too. Obviously, somewhere along the line I FUCKED UP. I consider my whole college experience to be one big regret, although earlier on there were more specific instances I have regrets over, such as turning down my roommate and his friend when inviting me to go out to parties because I felt too uncomfortable with people, and stupid shit like in post I linked to above. I became more and more anti-social, depressed, and too introverted, and I regret coping with all that by losing myself in the internet the following few years.
And going back even further, I regret not telling my parents (specifically my mom) to fuck off when trying to control and oversee every aspect of what I did with my life in highschool.

Oh, and I regret not having the balls to kiss my first "girlfriend" (that's in quotes for a reason) Debbie at camp the summer of 97. I could never tell if she wanted it, but my heart sank a few weeks later when I got a letter from her in which she confessed she really wanted to kiss me. Wayta go, champ *looks in mirror and gives a thumps up*.

<--- I also regret not checking the fucking height of the Agent Dale Cooper avatar I made a few days ago.

 

[Jason]

I too regret my college years...looking for a job in my field has been frustrating to say the least.

I also regret not accepting a free ticket to see the motherfucking Pixies. They'll tour again...right? Right?????????

 

[demon]

The first regrets that come to mind are with women. Most of which were during the time i was working, going to school, and helping my mom take care of my dad before he died. i had so many things going on at the time i couldn't see the numerous women who were obviously interested in me. i also have a major regret that our family never took pictures. In my dad's last few months, he was had lost a lot of weight, and looked nothing like the invincible superman i envisioned him to be, even into my adulthood. One of the first things i did after he died was to get a digital camera.

Now that I think about it, I regret not having taken pictures when I was growing up. For shit's sake, throughout most of grade school up through beginning of highschool I had an absolute best friend who lived right next door and was almost felt like a brother to me. I have so many great memories of him, our friendship, his family, and hanging out at his house. I have five pictures of him, all taken in my room, most of which during our last few days together. That's just not right.

 

[Jotaro]

In june 1998, a neurologist which I spent 5 minutes with in his cabinet refused to make me pass a scan despite my protestations. I gave it up, but I should have stood upmore. Because in october 2003, a brain tumor (which would have been found at that date) was discovered, and I would have not lost the best years of my life.

What a fucking dickhead!

 

[Matlock]

I think today would probably rank up there.

 

[psycho_snake]

I dont have many regrets. Im only fifteen, Im enjoying high school and teen life, I have a wondeful girlfriend and feel that Im doing well at school.

I do have one huge regret though. I have lived in many places and in those places I have made alot of friends, but when they leave or I leave to another place, I dont keep in contact with them. Whenever I think about it for long enough, it pains me to see that I have not spoken to them in so long.

 

[CaptainABAB]

Not selling my options at first chance after a company I worked at was purchased by some loser dotcom biz back in 2000 or so. Whereupon it went from $130+ to one dollar or so in a few months.

I was a paper millionaire...and now I wait for most games to reach bestseller status before buying...

 

[Drozmight]

My biggest regret I guess is not getting to know my siblings better. I think I know more about my friends than I do my own brother and sister.

 

[Greenpanda]

I kind of regret my choosing my stupid-ass, useless major, but not really. I wouldn't pick it now if I were making the choice now , but I also realize that the choices I'd make now (probably a physical science) I never would have made back when I was choosing my major (because my interests were totally different back then). I mean, there's a lot of different things that I might do differently now, but I also realize that I did them differently in the past because of the person I was then.

 

[norinrad21]

I pretty much screwed up after high school and i haven't been able to tell my mom about it for like 6years now. I just went back to college last year and some how i always find a way to change the subject whenever i visit.

A lot went wrong for me after high school and i haven't fully recovered from that, but some how i've been trying to get back on track, i regret so many things talking about them fills my eyes with tears.

Right now i know i may not win today, tomorrow nor next year but i 'm content with maintaining a steady path to get where i want to be.

The best thing is to learn to let go and look beyond your regrets but even that is pretty difficult when it seems you are being constantly confronted with how much you fucked up your life.

 

[nomoment]

Cutting an incredible amount of classes freshman year. Ended up failing three. While most people cut classes and get wasted/stoned, I was most typically found HERE ON GA, TRYING TO CULMINATE A POPULAR OT PERSONA. My college options have been pretty severely hindered because of this.


One of those unalterable things that you just learn to accept.

Please don't tell me this was during the dreaded "Golden Age/Silver Age" OT days.

 

[NLB2]

One time I forgot to take the garbage out and then it smelled like rotting bannanas in my house for an entire week.

 

[Chipopo]

Please don't tell me this was during the dreaded "Golden Age/Silver Age" OT days.

When else?

 

[nomoment]

When else?

I don't know. I was hoping it wasn't then.

The circle-jerking that went on back then was pretty embarassing. I know I wasted a lot of time here, too...

 

[Flynn]

I picked on nerds that were further down the food chain than me in high school.

I didn't nail that cute punk rock chick babe that was into me when I worked at Chick Fil A.

I let my dad skip out on my family without giving him a piece of my mind.

I was mean to my mom when she was at her lowest point.

I didn't stop a friend from killing himself with heroin.

I never learned Spanish and therefore never truly communicated with my Abuelo.

I hurt my back in college.

Strange thing is, I'm still kinda happy with where life has taken me.

 

[APerfectCircle]

mines the whole "didn't kiss the girl i had a 3 year crush on in highschool" scenario. the thing is, it sorta only has just happened, about a month ago we started going out clubbin together and it looked all good but i think i slipped into the friends category.
I'm sure there worse thing i should regret, like wasting high school, not getting a job for some experiance etc.

 

[Triumph]

Moving in with my girlfriend right out of high school. There were some good parts(sex) but mostly it was a horrible, horrible fucking idea.

 

[Blackie]

This is so sad but most of my regrets are not being proactive enough with the ladies.

Us guys really have ones track minds, don't we?

 

[FoneBone]

If there's anything I regret, it was not being out in high school... though I'm still not convinced I would have had anything to gain. (I think I could answer this better a few months from now, when my first year of college is done with.)

 

[demon]

What do you mean "out in highschool"? Outgoing? Outdoors more? Out of the closet?

 

[fart]

What do you mean "out in highschool"? Outgoing? Outdoors more? Out of the closet?

latter
fonebone is desperate to lay some pipe

 

[Flynn]

latter
fonebone is desperate to lay some pipe

I thought he meant, "not being out of lead for his mechanical pencil." That was always my problem and probably why I failed Calculus.

 

[FoneBone]

latter
fonebone is desperate to lay some pipe

:rolleyes

 

[Manabanana]

Moving in with my girlfriend right out of high school. There were some good parts(sex) but mostly it was a horrible, horrible fucking idea.

Cheers to that!

 

[fart]

:rolleyes

it's nothing to be ashamed of, dude.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

my choice of college, my major. but most of all i regret opening up how i felt about this girl and all i got in return was "i have a boyfrIend, you're a great guy but he was my first"

what the fuck did i join the service for if not to learn how to kill people?!?! to be honest, i dont like looking back. all i've bEen doing for years now is surviving, not really living like the rest of you guys do with parties and girls and things like that.

i gotta worry about things like wether i'll have a roof over my head from one day to the next or whether i'll have a job tomorrow. i'm not exagerating, that's just my life.

but i wouldnt have it any other way cause it's made stronger, more capable than most people out there and i know i can handle most anything that god wants to toss my way (except FOUR MORE YEARS!!) i know one day i'll finally be able to just have an easier life and do what i wanna do with it. until then.....

 

[Lil' Dice]

I wish i'd never boned that diseased crack-head.....

 

[The Take Out Bandit]

No shortage of school griping.

That's part of the reason I put off college after High School - and I still haven't gone back. :X

I figured I would wait, and go in with a level head and desire to achieve, as opposed to just going directly into another four years of sleeping in class, or cutting classes. I was also getting the bad info of "Don't pursue art!"

I tried community college for one semester, but then the money ran out. No financial aid, working at Target, etc. Basically - I got screwed. Being poor white folk fuckin' sucks. =_=

I'm gonna roll the dice again this year once all my W2's arrive and see if I can get some school money, or if I'm just f'ed. It's great that I'm reading so many articles about our economic climate and the conditions of the workplace in which employees are training, and retraining; yet obtaining the money to re-train is like trying to get blood from a stone.

Seeing a retired librarian that was attending the Cleveland Institute of Art while on jury duty three years ago set a fire under my ass to get back to school. I don't want to wait until my twilight years to do something I've wanted to do most of my life.

 

[Mama Smurf]

I have so, so many regrets...in fact I'm struggling to think of good decisions in my life...but I'll just focus on two.

Firstly, I had my first real girlfriend when I was 14. She was quite pretty, and I'd known her all my life and fancied her almost as long. I had no idea she liked me too, but then at my older sister's party, we kissed and started going out. Started and stopped. We went out once, and I got scared (of losing her as a friend, sure, but mainly of doing things I'd never done and didn't know how to) and avoided her for half a year. I honestly believe that set me back years sexually (and in building confidence), and, as I'm only 20 now, it's still having its effect. Really wish I'd kept going out with her, but maybe in ten years time it just won't be an issue anymore.

The other one is the subject choices I made for college. I was always smart academically, but I chose subjects I'd enjoyed at school rather than the easiest ones or the ones my friends were doing (your parents tell you to do this, don't listen). Consequently, not only were my classes too hard for me, I didn't have any friends in them either, and I dropped out. That really fucked me up, I think I'd be in a much better position and at university if I'd just done what everyone else did and chose the easier subjects that their friends were doing.

I don't like to focus on these things too much though. Basically because you never know how things would have gone. For all I know, I'd be dead now if I'd kept going out with that girl and I dodged a (literal?) bullet. The number of times things have been disappointing for me and I've just said "Well maybe it'll work out", and it has. Often just little things. I go to a store to buy something, and it's closed. I REALLY wanted it that day, so I'm disappointed then, but when I go back the next day, they've just started a sale and it's 15% off everything. Amazing how often these things happen.

 

[bionic77]

My NFL avatar bet with Eminem.

 

[WrathOfOtaibah]

This is an old thread but I was searching for digital cameras when this came up. My life has been pretty much one regret after another:

1) I wish I hadn't got so fat (5'11 275 lbs was my highest point) that I would sweat under normal temperatures (65-85 degrees)

2) I wish I hadn't spent probably $5000 or more on video games while I'm wearing some clothes that I've been wearing for five years. There was just better things to spend money and time on. I think I'm just going to sell them all ASAP and if I need to game, I'll play them on emulators *

3) Going against the grain of many people here, I wish I hadn't pursued art for a major. My art was good but I didn't fit in. My teachers were assholes too who graded you based on their speciality. If the teacher was a minimalist and you did a more complicated but well done project, you wouldn't do well. I'm just going to stick to graphic design as a side hobby.

4) I wished I hadn't gone out for football in High School. If I was dedicated to lifting weights, I would be in much better shape and much larger.

5) I wish I wasn't the class clown in HS. All that did was make people think I was some little bitch and couldn't do anything that required intelligence. I'd always be the tagalong. That sucked. Girls noticed it too and never got a chance except for the third wheel for the girls.

6) I wish I hadn't slacked off. Looking back, there was no reason why I didn't get a 4.0 in HS (got a 3.48). I also slacked off too much in college too. A lot of this shit is biting me in the ass.

I think the experiences are pretty valuable and made me a better person but if I could do it over again differently, I would.

* - The Experiment does not condone use of emulation. It is a federal crime and is punishable by 5 years and a $250,000 fine.

 

[borghe]

umm.. not sleeping with the only asian and only black chick I had an opportunity to sleep with up until this point... I am now married and love my wife very much, so those ships have pretty much sailed...

though my wife is native american so that is pretty sweet.

 

[Shig]

-Same ol' "not realizing the girl I liked liked me too and realizing it too late".

-Not getting my act together in HS. If I would have applied myself better, I would have gone to the art school I wanted to and would be doing something I love. As it is, I have a GED and maybe a year of credits from community college, which I dropped out of.

-Not keeping in contact with a guy from Cartoon Network who gave me his card at my last job.

-Not demanding a raise at that job way sooner. I was paid like shit for most of my stay (5+ yrs), and when I finally confronted the manager about it I got an awesome raise... then the store closed a few months later. No worries, I've got something better now, but still, wow that would have made things a lot easier during the time I worked there.